Boeing C-17 Globemaster III, USAF by Gert Hilbink

About "Boeing C-17 Globemaster III, USAF"

by Gert Hilbink

About the artwork

The Boeing (former McDonnell Douglas) C-17 Globemaster III is an American strategic transport aircraft, built by Boeing Integrated Defense Systems, and in service with the US Air Force, Royal Air Force, Royal Australian Air Force, Canadian Forces Air Command, Indian Air Force and Qatar Air Force.

A series of countries (the NATO members the Netherlands, Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Hungary, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia and the United States, as well as Finland and Sweden) jointly procured three C-17 Globemaster IIIs in 2009 under the Strategic Airlift Capability program. They are stationed at Pápa Air Base in Hungary. The Netherlands is one of the main users with more than 500 flight hours. The first aircraft was delivered on July 14, 2009 and the other two followed in the autumn.

The US uses the aircraft to transport nuclear material. C-17As from the 62d Airlift Wing (Prime Nuclear Airlift Force) in McChord regularly visit the bases at Kleine-Brogel and Volkel where B61 atomic bombs are stored.

The C-17 Globemaster III is capable of rapid strategic delivery of troops and goods to and from a main base or forward bases. The aircraft is large enough to transport a Chinook helicopter. It is also capable of tactical transport of for example wounded and for airdrops. The C-17 takes its name from two previous heavy transport aircraft.
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